BUSH: "THE US STANDS BY TURKEY"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met yesterday with US President George W. Bush in Washington. Bush emphasized that the US would support Ankara in both the political and economic spheres under Ecevit's administration. Bush also thanked Ecevit and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem for the support they had shown for the new round of talks on Cyprus between that island's leaders, Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Glafcos Clerides. The question of Iraq was also closely discussed in detail and Bush pledged that US would consult with Turkey before making any decision. Ecevit also signaled Turkey's full support for the US war against terrorism. The subject of the Aegean was also discussed, Ecevit said, and added that everybody would be pleased if Turkey and Greece's differences in the region were settled. /Milliyet/
RUMSFELD, BUSH SUPPORT TURKEY LEADING PEACEKEEPING FORCE
Before meeting with US President Bush yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit held talks with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the White House. Rumsfeld mentioned the support that the US would give to Turkey to lead the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan following Great Britain, a theme echoed later by President Bush. Contrary to expectations in Turkey, the question of Iraq did not come up. Military debts were also discussed and Rumsfeld said that he would bring Turkey's expectations to the Bush administration. For his part, Ecevit said that the volume of Turkish-US bilateral trade should be increased to better reflect the political and military ties between the two countries. /Milliyet/
FORMER CIA DIRECTOR WOOLSEY: "TURKEY IS THE KEY COUNTRY"
Former CIA Director James Woolsey said yesterday that a US operation in Iraq would be destined to fail without Turkey's support. Stating that Turkey's concerns about Iraq's territorial integrity were completely understandable, Woolsey said, "I believe that if the Turkish and US governments jointly decide that Saddam's regime must be toppled without damaging Iraq's territorial integrity, it will be impossible for the separatist Kurdish groups in northern Iraq to attain their goals." /Cumhuriyet/
CYPRUS TALKS BEGIN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides met yesterday in Lefkosha to inaugurate a new process of direct talks over the island. Following the one-hour-plus meeting, the two leaders decided to meet again with accompanying delegations every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday until a settlement on the island is reached. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Cyprus Special Envoy Alvaro de Soto, who attended the meeting as an observer, said that the meeting had been fruitful. He added that the two leaders had discussed issues comprehensively and that that was very encouraging. /All Papers/
VERHEUGEN: "TURKEY HAS A DEBT ON CYPRUS"
EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen told the Frankfurter Rundschau daily yesterday in an interview that Turkey had a "debt" on the Cyprus issue. Answering a question as to whether or not Turkey's possible EU membership hinged on the Cyprus issue being solved, Verheugen said, "Turkey has a debt on the Cyprus issue. It is already obliged to support the UN secretary-general's peace efforts as part of the Security Council decisions." He added, "Additionally, Turkey has pledged to help to find a solution to the Cyprus issue in line with its EU membership bid. Turkey's taking the steps which are needed on the issue would not be enough to begin its EU membership negotiations." /Turkiye/
KDP AND PUK: "WE SUPPORT IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"
Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani announced in a joint statement yesterday that they were in favor of finding a democratic and federal solution to the Kurdish problem in Iraq without damaging Iraq's territorial integrity. The KDP and PUK rejected recent allegations in the Turkish press that the groups supported the idea of establishing an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq. "There are allegations in the international community that we want to establish an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq," said the statement. "We vehemently deny these unfounded and provocative allegations. We advocate the political unity of Iraq with a democratic solution to the Kurdish problem. Our preliminary goal is to protect the peace and stability in the region." Furthermore, Kurdistan National Assembly Speaker Roj Nuri Shaways made a speech on Tuesday stating that a campaign against northern Iraq had been recently initiated by Turkish media and a number of Turkish officials. "No Iraqi Kurdish party or group has advocated breaking away from Iraq, nor have they asked for the establishment of an independent state," Shaways said. A brief translation of his speech was sent to the Turkish Parliament, European Parliament, European Union and United States Congress. /All Papers/
TURCO-GREEK COOPERATION IN SCIENCE BEARS FRUIT
Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) Deputy Chairman Tugrul Tankut announced yesterday that Turkish and Greek scientists has submitted 79 joint research proposals to the group under a recent scientific cooperation protocol signed between their respective countries. Tankut said that under the accord, entered into by TUBITAK and the Greek General Secretariat for Research and Technology, scientists from Turkey and Greece would be able to receive support for joint research and development studies. Tankut added, "We're supporting the research and development projects with a new model. The scientific content of the projects should be sound and their budgets realistic. Committees from both our countries, plus advisory and project groups will evaluate the 79 projects that were delivered to TUBITAK. Following this evaluation, we will jointly decide which projects deserve the support. /Aksam/
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SPOTLIGHTS RENEWABLE ENERGY
Turkish Foundation of Combat Against Erosion (TEMA) head Umit Y. Gurses said yesterday that in a world where energy reserves were being rapidly depleted, support must be given to developing energy technology based on sun, wind and thermal power. Stressing that Turkey needed to invest $4.5 million dollars in energy every year, Gurses said, "However, this can't be possible using our country's resources alone. For this reason, we need to be balance and moderate our energy demands in order to invest in the future." added, "Naturally, fossil fuels will be continued to be used, but, we think that investments in renewable energy resources are important, both to prevent destruction of the environment and to overcome our energy shortage." /Turkiye/
EU COMMISSION TO GRANT TURKEY 167 MILLION EUROS
The European Union Commission announced yesterday that 167 million euros would be granted to Turkey this year. The grant will be targeted at precisely encouraging small and medium-size Turkish enterprises, and new investments in the southern Anatolian region. EU Commission Turkey Representative Karen Fogg hailed the decision as "a significant boost to Turkey's attempts to gain membership." /Cumhuriyet/
DERVIS: "POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE"
At a reception held by three private Turkish economic groups in Washington yesterday, Economy Minister Kemal Dervis said that a "positive atmosphere" was reigning over the visit by Turkish government and private sector leaders to the United States. Speaking to members of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), Turkish Industrialists and Businessman Association (TUSIAD) and Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK), Dervis added that Turkey should fulfill the conditions necessary to receive additional support from the International Monetary Fund. /Hürriyet/
TOBB AND US BUSINESS GROUP REACH COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, who is currently visiting the United States, and US Chambers of Commerce Chairman Thomas Donahue announced yesterday that they had reached an agreement to further develop economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Donahue said that he warmly welcomed Hisarciklioglu's invitation to visit Turkey and that he and a full delegation would come to the country in April. The agreement, which lays out a three-year program to develop cooperation with US companies as well as increase competition, will be signed between the TOBB, Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the US Chambers of Commerce during this visit. Designating "sister companies" in target sectors such as information technology, agriculture, food and tourism under this agreement is intended to develop the cooperation. At the end of the three-years program, the establishment of an electronic community consisting of Turkish and US companies is planned. Hisarciklioglu said that at the end of the first year, a minimum of 400 Turkish companies would be able to participate in an online group in which they can reach US companies and communicate with them. /Sabah/
CLIMBS PLANNED TO HONOR TURKISH PRESIDENTS
The Turkish Mountaineering Federation announced plans yesterday to climb 10 separate summits in honor of the 10 past and present presidents of the Turkish Republic. At a press conference, Mountaineering Federation Chairman Alaattin Karaca said that Mt Ararat had recently been climbed with the participation of foreign mountaineers to commemorate republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He added that the other climbs would be done through this August and that State Minister Fikret Unlu will attend the climbing to be held in Erzurum. /Aksam/
THEATRE AND CINEMA HALL TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT SINOP CASTLE
Preliminary work has started to construct a theatre and cinema hall with a capacity of 9,000 at Sinop Castle, whose restoration is underway by the Culture Ministry. Officials stated yesterday that the hall's plans were ready and that its construction would begin soon. Sinop Museum head Fuat Dereli said that the protected historic castle was attracting the attention of both Turkish and foreign tourists. He added, "A great deal of effort is made to pass on this important cultural asset to future generations. So every year we work to restore the castle, and particularly its walls and interior sides. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION